Beeri the Hittite
A Hittite patriarch during the era of Isaac, known primarily as the father of Judith, one of Esau's wives.
Beeri the Hittite was a figure living in the land of Canaan during the Patriarchal Period, specifically during the life of Isaac and the early adulthood of Esau. He is identified as a member of the Hittite people, a group that occupied various regions of Canaan and interacted frequently with the lineage of Abraham. His inclusion in the biblical record serves to ground the narrative of the patriarchs within the local ethnic and social landscape of the time.
Beeri is mentioned exclusively in the context of the marital alliances formed by Esau, the elder son of Isaac and Rebekah. As a father, he represents the local Canaanite families that became linked to the Abrahamic line through marriage—a development that caused significant distress to Esau’s parents and marked a departure from the family's tradition of seeking spouses from their own kin.
Background and Family
Beeri the Hittite appears in the Genesis narrative during the 20th century BC. He is identified by his ethnic heritage as a Hittite, a group referred to as the 'sons of Heth.' In the patriarchal accounts, the Hittites are often depicted as established inhabitants of the land, particularly around Hebron and the hill country. Beeri’s specific family record is brief, noting him as the father of Judith. Through his daughter, he became a father-in-law to Esau, the grandson of Abraham.
Major Life Events
The only recorded event involving Beeri is the marriage of his daughter, Judith, to Esau. According to Genesis 26:34, this union took place when Esau reached forty years of age. This event is significant not for Beeri’s personal actions, but for the social and religious implications it carried for the household of Isaac. By marrying Judith, the daughter of Beeri, Esau entered into a domestic arrangement with the local Canaanite population, bypassing the strict endogamous preferences established by his grandfather Abraham.
Relationship to Other Biblical Figures
Beeri’s primary relationship in the biblical text is to his daughter, Judith, and his son-in-law, Esau. The text also mentions Elon the Hittite in the same verse, suggesting that Beeri and Elon were contemporaries and perhaps peers within the Hittite community of the region.
When Esau was forty years old, he took as his wives Judith daughter of Beeri the Hittite and Basemath daughter of Elon the Hittite. (Genesis 26:34)
This connection placed Beeri at the periphery of the covenant family. However, the Bible notes that these marriages were a 'grief of mind' to Isaac and Rebekah, indicating that while Beeri was a legitimate patriarch of his own clan, his integration into the family of Isaac was viewed as a source of spiritual and familial tension.
Spiritual Significance
While the text does not record Beeri’s personal faith or character, his presence in the genealogy of Edom (through Esau) is historically noteworthy. He represents the 'foreign' element that influenced the early development of the Edomite people. In the broader biblical theology of the Pentateuch, Beeri serves as a marker of the cultural environment that tested the faithfulness of the patriarchal line. His role is that of a local father whose lineage intertwined with the chosen family, highlighting the complexities of life in the Promised Land before it was fully possessed by the Israelites.
Spiritual Significance
Beeri serves as a genealogical link between the Hittite population of Canaan and the descendants of Esau. His significance lies in his role as a representative of the Canaanite influences that the early patriarchs were warned against, yet ultimately engaged with through marriage. Through Beeri, the text illustrates the ethnic mixing that defined the early history of the Edomites, distinguishing them from the line of Jacob which sought wives from within the extended family in Paddan-aram.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Beeri the Hittite?
Beeri was a Hittite man living in Canaan during the time of Isaac. He is known solely for being the father of Judith, who married Esau.
What tribe did Beeri belong to?
Beeri was not an Israelite; he belonged to the Hittites, one of the indigenous nations inhabiting Canaan during the Patriarchal Period.
How did Beeri's family affect Isaac and Rebekah?
Beeri's daughter Judith married their son Esau, an act that caused Isaac and Rebekah great distress and bitterness, as they preferred their children not to marry local Canaanite women.
When did Beeri live?
Beeri lived during the Patriarchal Period, roughly around the 20th century BC, coinciding with the adulthood of Esau.
Connected Figures
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Mentions by Book
- Genesis1
Family & Relationships
Child
Genesis 26:34
Others Named Beeri the Hittite
Beeri, Father of HoseaHosea 1:1
Beeri was a man of the tribe of Israel during the 8th century BC, best known for being the father of the prophet Hosea.